Washing machine agitator

ABSTRACT

A domestic clothes washer has a tub with a top opening. An agitator is adapted to reciprocate vertically within the tub and includes a frustoconically shaped, single cone providing clothes immersion and turnover.

United States Patent Inventor Richard R. Walton Boston, Mass.

Appl. No. 831,423

Filed June 9,1969

Patented July 13,1971

Assignce General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

D06f 17/10 Field of Search 68/ l 34,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,132,502 5/1964 Walton. A.68/23.6 3.245.235 4/1966 Long H 68/17 Primary Examiner-William l. PriceAssistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe Attorneys-William S. Pettigrew andFrederick M. Ritchie ABSTRACT: A domestic clothes washer has a tub witha top opening. An agitator is adapted to reciprocate vertically withinthe tub and includes a frustoconically shaped, single cone providingclothes immersion and turnover.

PATENTEU Jun 3 l9?! 3; 592', 026

SHEET 1 OF 2 i c T If 7 90 fi -T EH1] u a L: w a [HID 92 w 76 n a as p1a 9 i 55 6z I l5;\"/ Rv j} Z HichardHlZhZzozz BY ATTQRN! Y PATENTED JUL1 3 I971 SHEET 2 OF 2 Richard HlZ/alzon fi MM ATTORNEY WASHING MACHINEAGITATOR This invention relates to a domestic clothes washer and moreparticularly to an improved vertically reciprocable agitator thereofVertical agitation has been used for years in domestic clothes washers.With such agitation greater washing energy may be imparted to the waterthan with horizontal agitation. For this reason tubs in clothes washersdesigned for vertical agitation are generally smaller. This makes theagitator appear larger.

The washing results are not impaired by the smallness of the tub, butthose using the washer and seeing the smaller tub in relation toagitator size tend to restrict the size of their clothes load below thatrecommended by the manufacturer. Accordingly, this invention is directedto a clothes washer which provides the advantage of vertical agitationwithout losing the apparent spaciousness of the tub.

The agitator of this invention is an improvement over my U.S. Pat. No.3,132,502 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,132,500 both patents issued May 12, 1964,and assigned to the same assignee. One of the clothes actuator rings hasbeen eliminated. The other has been formed into a taller, steepersloped, single frustoconical member which appears smaller in the tub andyet, unexpectedly, gives better clothes turnover and immersion.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide animproved vertical agitator for use in a clothes washer.

It is another general object of this invention to provide a verticallyreciprocable agitator for use in a clothes washer tub which presents asmaller appearance in relation to the tub than similar prior artagitators.

A more specific object is the provision in a clothes washer tub of anautomatic vertically reciprocable agitator having improved dimensionswhich provide for a taller, steeper-sloped, single cone design toproduce better clothes turnover and immersion.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a clothes washer with parts brokenaway to show the improved clothes agitator of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a clothes washer spin tub in combinationwith the agitator of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view taken along line 3-3 inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the circulator column portion of theagitator with parts cut away to show its construction.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIG. I, aclothes washer 20 is comprised of a control housing 22 and an outercabinet or casing 24. The v casing 24 is generally divided into amechanism compartment 26 and a water container 28. A centrally locatedbulkhead 30 separates the mechanism compartment 26 from the watercontainer 28. Within the water container 28 is a spin tub having a topopening 36 and a plurality of centrifuging outflow ports 38. The ports38 are designed to permit egress of water from the tub when the tub isrotated at high speed.- Conventional control means 42 are provided forsupplying water to the tub 34 in a controlled fashion to provide aliquid surface level 44 in the tub 34. Within the tub 34 an agitator orpulsator 48 is adapted to reciprocate for producing toroidal circulationin the tub and for agitating clothes therein. Thus, clothes are washedas the agitator 48 forces surging currents of wash water and detergentthrough the fabric of the clothes.

The agitating and spinning system shown generally at 52 in the mechanismcompartment 26 is adapted to selectively rotate the rub 34 andreciprocate the agitator 48. One agitat ing and spinning mechanismsuitable for use with this invention is shown in the U.S. Fat. toBrucken, No. 3,087,321 issued on Apr. 30, I963. Such mechanisms aredesigned for agitate speeds of 330 and 220 1.75-inch strokes per minutewith spin speeds of 7 lb and 465 revolutions per minute.

Turning now to FIG 2 the agitator 48 of this invention is showninstalled in a spin tub 34 having the following dimensions. The overallheight A is 12 23/32 inches and the distance B from the top of theballast ring to the liquid surface level 44 in the tub is 2 35/64inches. The outer dimension of the tub 34 at its greatest point, notcounting the small out-turned flange adjacent the outflow ports 38, is21 /2 inches and the diameter C of the top opening 36 is 16 inches. Forstrengthening thereof the tub 34 is affixedly supported on an annularcasting 58 which is affixed to the spin shaft portion 60 of theagitating and spinning mechanism 52. The vertically reciprocal agitateshaft 62 extends through the spin shaft 60 and the tub support casting58 into the tub where it is adapted to receive the agitator 48. Asuitable concentric bellows arrangement 64 interconnects the bottom ofthe tub 34 with the spin shaft in a manner to provide a water sealpreventing water from reaching the mechanism. The length of the verticalstroke of the reciprocating agitator 48 is 1.75 inches.

The agitator 48 is comprised of a sheet metal circulator column portion68 and a pump ring portion 70. The circulator column is formed with acylinder 71 having a height D of 4,875 inches and a diameter E of 3.75inches. At the lower end of the cylinder is an affixed central partitionor base 72. The pump ring 70 at the bottom of the agitator is molded ofneoprene into a rather outwardly flared bell. The top of the bellsupports the partition 72 which has a central opening 74 through whichthe threaded end 76 of the agitate shaft extends. A column mounting nut78 threads onto the top of the agitate shaft to lock the circulatorcolumn 68 in assembled relationship with the pump ring 70. A surgerelief chamber 79 is formed therebetween. On the outside of cylinder 71is a generally frustoconical clothes agitator ring 80 formed as a skirtsurrounding the cylinder 71 and including extending tabs 82 at spacedquadrant points around the skirt which are attached as by welding orsoldering at 84 to the cylinder. The attachment at 84 is a distance F of0.438 inch below the top of the cylinder and the skirt extendsdownwardly to provide a clothes actuator ring having a height G of 6.562inches and a diameter H of 8.75 inches. Thus, surge relief ports 86 areformed between the tabs to provide four openings with a vertical heightJ of 0.562 inch at the jointure of the actuator ring 80 and the cylinder71. Moreover, such dimensions result in a taller, steeper, conicalmember, wherein the actuator ring 80 slopes away from the cylinder 71 atan angle of substantially 2l.

A plastic cap 90 is removably attached to the top of the cylinder 71.This forms a closed chamber 92 for receiving detergent which is thendispensed as the agitator reciprocates, through openings 94 at thebottom of the cylinder. The cap 90 has a diameter K of 4.75 inchesforming outboard of the cylinder 71 a flat undersurface 96. The surface96 overlies the surge relief ports 86.

In operation the pump ring 70, as it reciprocates, produces toroidalcurrents of water and detergent within the tub 34. The clothes actuatorring 80 ratchets the clothes in a smooth even turnover. The fabric ofthe clothes, first one portion and then another, is unfolded and exposedto the surging currents of the pump ring near the bottom of the tub.Pressures built up by the turbulence of the washing liquid between thepump ring and the clothes actuator ring are relieved through the ports86. Pulsating spurts of liquid jet upwardly. Each of these upwardlydirected spurts, however, hit the undersurface 96 of the cap and arediverted in an outwardly direction as an aid in immersing or wettingdown the clothes. Improved immersion and clothes turnover result asshown in the following tables:

T ABLE 2 Immersion time. seconds N De- Detertergenl, gent Load inpounds:

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What I claim is as follows:

1. A clothes washer agitator in combination with a wash tub having adiameter of about 21 inches, and a top opening, said tub adapted toenclose liquid at a predetermined surface level, and said agitatorcomprising,

a. a pump ring adapted for automatic linear reciprocation to producetoroidal washing currents in said tub,

b. means forming a circular column including only a single clothesactuator ring, said column comprising a cylinder about 4 inches indiameter having a base connectable to said pump ring, said clothesactuator ring configured as a frustoconical skirt wrapped around saidcylinder and having extended spaced tabs at the upper end thereofjoining with said cylinder at the upper end thereof to form at thejointure therewith and between said spaced tabs spaced surge reliefports, said skirt including said tabs having a height of about 6 inchesand a diameter of about 8% inches at the lower end thereof and formingwith said cylinder at an angle of substantially 21".

0. means for connecting said pump ring and said clothes actuator ring inassembled relationship whereby to form only a single surge reliefchamber between said clothes actuator ring and said pump ring,

d. said surge relief ports connecting said surge relief chamber toatmosphere and positioned within said tub in a manner to be reciprocatedabove and below said predetermined surface level whereby to facilitatethe re lief of surge pressures in said surge relief chamber and tocreate spurts of liquid in an upward direction from said surge reliefports.

2. The combination of claim ll including a cap removably attached tosaid cylinder at the upper end thereof, said cap having a downwardlyfacing substantially horizontal surface circumscribing said cylinderabove said surge relief ports and sufficiently near thereto to divertsaid spurts of liquid from said upward direction to an outward directionwhereby to wet down clothes above said predetermined surface level.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 i 592026 Dated July 13 a 1971 Richard R. Walton Inventor(s) It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet the illustrative drawing should appear as shownbelow:

r c a I f a z m u 3 56 IL 5 *5 -.r 5 M! 14 e: L: I; u M

as 1 92 w 76 n a v V a a l w a 24 /w 59 1 g az FORM (10-59) USCOMM-DCoos-ro-Puo 7 [Li GOVIRNIIENT P'HNTING OFFlCE: I9. O)63Jl,

PO-IDSO Patent No.

Inventor (1:)

Richard R. Wallzon Dated July 13, 1971 PAGE 2 It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 5, "thereof" should read therefor line 60, after "tub'insert 34 line 74, "rub" should read tub Column 2, line 7, "dimension"should read diameter line 24, "4,875" should read 4.875

line 33, after "of" insert the line 75, (TABLE 1) "6.1" should read 6.13

Column 3, line 9, (TABLE 2) "50. should read 50.3

line 22, "circular" should read circulator Signed and sealed this 18thday of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJILETC HER, JR

Attesting Officer ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK Commissioner of Patents

1. A clothes washer agitator in combination with a wash tub having adiameter of about 21 inches, and a top opening, said tub adapted toenclose liquid at a predetermined surface level, and said agitatorcomprising, a. a pump ring adapted for automatic linear reciprocation toproduce toroidal washing currents in said tub, b. means forming acircular column including only a single clothes actuator ring, saidcolumn comprising a cylinder about 4 inches in diameter having a baseconnectable to said pump ring, said clothes actuator ring configured asa frustoconical skirt wrapped around said cylinder and having extendedspaced tabs at the upper end thereof joining with said cylinder at theupper end thereof to form at the jointure therewith and between saidspaced tabs spaced surge relief ports, said skirt including said tabshaving a height of about 6 1/2 inches and a diameter of about 8 3/4inches at the lower end thereof and forming with said cylinder at anangle of substantially 21*. c. means for connecting said pump ring andsaid clothes actuator ring in assembled relationship whereby to formonly a single surge relief chamber between said clothes actuator ringand said pump ring, d. said surge relief ports connecting said surgerelief chamber to atmosphere and positioned within said tub in a mannerto be reciprocated above and below said predetermined surface levelwhereby to facilitate the relief of surge pressures in said surge reliefchamber and to create spurts of liquid in an upward direction from saidsurge relief ports.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a capremovably attached to said cylinder at the upper end thereof, said caphaving a downwardly facing substantially horizontal surfacecircumscribing said cylinder above said surge relief ports andsufficiently near thereto to divert said spurts of liquid from saidupward direction to an outward direction whereby to wet down clothesabove said predetermined surface level.